Device for automatic selection of the knitting needles in a hand-operated knitting machine

ABSTRACT

This disclosure relates to the construction of a rotary pattern wheel for a hand-operated knitting machine wherein the pattern wheel carries pivotally mounted control members which are adjustable between two positions with the control members acting directly on knitting needles through an intermediate selection wheel, to set the positions of the needles. The working positions of the control members of the pattern wheel are selected by magnetic control means in accordance with a predetermined data source which selectively energizes or de-energizes the electromagnetic control means so as to effect the selective positioning of each control member, in turn, in either a work position or a rest position.

United States Patent Bartels Aug. 19, 1975 [54] DEVICE FOR AUTOMATIC SELECTION OF 3,611,753 lO/l97l Krause 66/75 THE KNITTING NEEDLES IN A 3,820,359 6/1974 Hanson et al 66/50 A HAND-OPERATED KNITTING MACHINE FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [75] Inventor: Manfred Bartels, Cologne, Germany 1,401,262 4/1965 France .7 66/50 A [73] Asslgnee' z ilixg z g Luxembourg Primary ExaminerRonald Feldbaum Attorney, Agent, or FirmDiller, Brown, Ramik & [22] Filed: Oct. 7, 1974 Wight [21] Appl. No.: 512,878

[57] ABSTRACT This disclosure relates to the construction of a rotar [30] Foreign Apphcauon Priority Data pattern wheel for a hand-operated knitting machine OCIv 9, 1973 Germany 7336353 wherein the pattern whee] carries pi ny mountgd Germany "2404307w1 control members which are adjustable between two positions with the control members acting directly on [52] US. Cl:z 66/75; 66/50 A knitting needles through an intermediate Selection [5 e e e e e e a 0a [58] new of Search 66/75 154 50 60 positions of the control members of the pattern wheel are selected by magnetic control means in accordance [56] References C'ted with a predetermined data source which selectively UNITED STATES PATENTS energizes or de-energizes the electromagnetic control 2,153,342 4/1939 Ruinnet 66/75 means so as to effect the selective positioning of each 2, 21, /1 Melmert n 66/75 X control member, in turn, in either a work position or a 3,079,775 3/1963 Schaeder et a]. 66/50 A rest i i 3,170,312 2/1965 Stock 66/50 A 3,292,393 12/1966 Ribler 66/50 A 24 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENTEUAUB'I 9mm 3, 899. 899 snmlu g 1 )1 a Jul.

FIG. 2

PATENTEU AUG] 9 I975 SLZIET U UF FIG. 9

FIG. 10

DEVICE FOR AUTOMATIC SELECTION OF THE KNITTING NEEDLES IN A HAND-OPERATED KNITTING MACHINE This invention relates in general to a device for the automatic selection of knitting needles in a handoperated knitting machine, the device including at least one rotary pattern wheel carried by a machine cam with the pattern wheel carrying rocker arm type control members which are adjustable between two positions and which act on the knitting needles, either directly or indirectly to set the positions of the needles, the working position of the control members being selected by a magnetic control means from a data source which reproduces a prescribed knitting pattern.

The selection of knitting needles is required to achieve different knitting patterns and weaving effects. Since the manual selection of the knitting needles is both difficult and time consuming and makes the operation of a knitting machine considerably more difficult, automatic selection of knitting needles was undertaken by which means the knitting machine was greatly simplified, and without any special act on the part of the person operating the machine, facilitated knitting of very diverse patterns.

For this purpose, it has already been proposed to fit into the machine cam pattern wheels which carry control members, which control members are adjustable between two positions and which position is selected by a single electromagnet in response to data from a data source. The selection is made possible by the fact that the control members can be rocked by a lever which is counterbalanced by a spring and can be actuated by an electromagnet into a position in which the control members are either within or without the range of a selection arm which, for its part, influences the position of the knitting needles. Because of the electronic selection of the control members, this arrangement is, in itself, thoroughly advantageous for hand knitting machines, but the insertion of a lever between the control member and the electromagnet gives rise to a slowing down in working rate which has a disadvantageous effect on the output which can be achieved with a hand operated knitting machine.

In addition, in a pattern device on circular knitting machines, that is to say on large factory machines, it is known to select magnetically, in accordance with the pattern, the control elements, which are controlled by fixed cms and which move the needles, the selection of the control elements being effected by means of small spring rods. Several successive cams act together with several adjacent magnets, in particular with two holding magnets and a control magnet arranged between these. The effect of both the stepped sequence of the cams and also the arrangement of the several magnets is that the known selection device is not reversible, that is to say, it operates only in one direction of rotation and is, therefore, unsuitable for hand operating knitting machines with alternating directions of movement of the knitting cam. In addition, due to the large number of control parts, it is too large and too expensive for a hand operated knitting machine.

This invention relates to the provision of a selection device for knitting machines which is suitable for hand operating knitting machines, which operates electromagnetically and is of a simple construction, and the small size of which enables it to be fitted on the machine cam of a hand operated knitting machine and which operates at an optimum rate and with a minimum expenditure of electrical energy while being reversible.

According to this invention, the pattern wheel is provided with an electromagnet, which is excitable by impulse and which is arranged concentrically, in an immobile manner, in a ring of control members, and all of the components of the pattern wheel are in an axially symmetrical arrangement.

A device of this type operates completely reversibly with only a single central electromagnet which means that a single pattern wheel is sufficient to control the selection elements in both directions of movement of the knitting cam of hand operated knitting machine. The second pattern wheel, which was heretofore required, is thus no longer needed, with the advantage that the electrical switching from one pattern wheel to the other is dispensed with. This, in turn, results in an increase in the working rate and the current consumption is kept low with the selection device placing such a small load on the knitting cam that the weight of the device is practically unnoticeable when the knitting cam is moved by hand. The invention allows both mono-stable and bi-stable pattern wheels to be constructed, which results in a considerable degree of variation from the construction point of view, thus making it possible to adapt the device to suit any situation in practice. When the pattern wheel is constructed in accordance with the invention, there are no binding requirements with regard to data source and the transmittal thereof, which data produces the knitted pattern to the control members. The impulses for the electromagnet can emanate from a computer, from a central controlling device or from a data carrier disc, such as that disclosed in German patent application No. 2,059,751. Further, the pattern wheel may be utilized in a knitting machine construction of the type broadly disclosed in my copending application Ser. No. 486,698, filed July 8, 1974.

In an appropriate embodiment of the invention, a mono-stable pattern wheel can be produced when the electromagnet holds the control members, which are spring loaded towards their working position, by directly securing them individually in the working position, in which they deflect bi-stable selection levers acting as selection elements for the knitting needles of at least one selection wheel, which wheel rotates synchronously with the pattern wheel. In the working position every control member lies against the central electromagnet and is secured directly in the working position by the electromagnet as soon as it is excited by impulse. The control members, therefore, cover no distance to take up their working positions and any delay due to this in the past is now avoided. A high working rate can be achieved with the pattern wheel and, because the number of interacting parts is held to a minimum, breakdowns are practically eliminated.

Since the electromagnetic directly secures the control members in the working positions, without intermediate operating lever, the magnetic force can be low and, in addition, the current consumption is thus also kept low. A pattern wheel of this type can be termed a reversible mono-stable pattern wheel to which at least one selection wheel carrying the selection elements or levers for the knitting needles is assigned. Because of the reversibility of the pattern wheel, which enables it to operate in both directions of movement of the knitting cam, the arrangement can be such that two selection wheels are actuated by a single pattern wheel, one selection wheel being operable in each direction of movemennt of the knitting cam. It is also possible to couple only one selection wheel with a single pattern wheel. For this purpose, the selection wheel is to be positioned exactly in the center of the knitting cam so that it can fulfill the selection function for the knitting needles in both directions of movement of this cam.

The pattern wheel and the selection wheel or wheels operate together so that the control members of the pattern wheel are held rigidly by the electromagnet which is excited according to impulse in the working position in which they press against a selection lever of the selection wheel so that the selection lever, for its part, is dropped into its working position in which the knitting needles are brought into different positions which vary from the normal position of the needles for knitting patterns (Jacquard, woven effect and the like). If the electromagnet is not excited, it does not secure the particular control member of the pattern wheel in its working position and this control member cannot overcome the pressure of the corresponding selection lever of the selection wheel so that the selection lever is not deflected from its working position, and in accordance with the pattern, the knitting needles take up their normal positions. The interaction of the control members with the selection levers serves the principle, according to the invention, of the omission of impulsetransmitting intermediate members in order to shorten the time of the working cycle.

Since it is desired to secure the control members only at certain points on the circumference of the central electromagnet, the electromagnet is provided with at least one radial extension which acts directly on the upper arm of the control member moving past the electromagnet extension. The magnetic extension can either project outward through open points in a nonmagnetic ring which surrounds the magnetic core of the electromagnet or the electromagnet can be enclosed by a cover hood made of non-magnetic material having at least one opening through which the magnetic extension projects. Advantageously, the upper arm of each control member, which engages the magnetic extension, is kept as wide as is permitted by the division of the ring of control members so that optimum utilization of the magnetic force of attraction for securing the control member in its working position is achieved by as large as possible a contact area between the arm of the control member and the electromagnet. Since the deflection of the bi-stable selection levers of the selection wheel take place during the rotation through only one needle division, more than two selection wheels can be arranged around a single monostable pattern wheel, which can be highly desirable in order to achieve multi-color knitting effects or the like.

With advantage as insulating coating, preferably of plastic, is sprayed around at least the magnetic extension, which coating prevents residual magetism arising in the extension and thus effectively avoids a control member being secured magnetically in its working position although no signal has been given for the displacement of a knitting needle and such a displacement would cause a mistake in the pattern in the knitting.

Each control member is provided with a spring which holds it in its working position, that is to say with the upper arm thereof pressed against the cover for the electromagnet. For this purpose, either the spring compresses the arm of the control member which faces away from the electromagnet radially outward, or each control member can have an open hook-like attachment which engages under a circular shaft which supports all of the control levers, the rounded outer surface of the attachment being placed on a support in a movable manner and the end of each hook-like attachment being loaded by spring. Preferably, all of the springs are free ended, radial lamellae of a circular disc fastened co-axially to the axis of the pattern wheel.

At least the upper part of the pattern wheel can be surrounded by a covering which also encloses the control members and prevents dust and wool residues penetrating into the mechanism of the pattern wheel.

A bi-stable pattern wheel works according to the same principle as the embodiment set forth above. In this case, the control members have postions which can pivot bi-laterally about vertical shafts and are arranged in a disc which is firmly connected to the pattern wheel so that it rotates together with the wheel with the control member portions moving close by a centrally disposed electromagnet when the pattern wheel rotates and wherein the control members are held firmly by the electromagnet until they have assumed their working positions, the control members then being held in their working positions by a permanent magnetic force or by spring loaded ball detents. The control members of a pattern wheel of this type can take up two stable positions: the working position, in which the knitting needles are shifted to a different position, which varies from the normal needle position, for knitting patterns (Jacquard, woven-effect and the like), and a rest position, in which the knitting needles take up their normal positions. In this case the working position of the control members is achieved by portions thereof being firmly held directly by the electromagnet which requires little magnetic force and takes place very rapidly so that operation at a low electrical power consumption is possible with the bi-stable pattern wheel. This pattern wheel is also reversible and, in addition, it is possible, by arranging the control members horizontally, to construct the pattern wheel as a very shallow and light weight wheel which has a highly advantageous effect on the external assembly and the weight of the machine cam.

The bi-stable pattern wheel can interact with at least one selection wheel to operate the knitting needles. However, a procedure is also possible in which a pinlike projection is provided on the underside of each lever, the projection acting as the selection element for the knitting needles, thereby eliminating the need for a selection wheel. A further acceleration of the selection process is achieved in this way. When the pattern wheel is rotated, the pin-like projections of the control members which are in the rest position strike directly on the foot of the respective knitting needles and move then into the normal needle position. The control levers which, in accordance with the pattern, are in the working position do not touch the feet of the needles, but move between the feet of two needles so that the needles are disposed in another position, which varies from the normal needle position.

Deviating from the embodiments of the invention which have been described in which the working position of the control members have been fixed soley by the electromagnet, in a further embodiment of the invention, lower arms of the control members work together with two rigid curved limbs, which limbs are mounted opposite to one another and which lead the upper arms of the control members into the region of a centrally disposed electromagnet and, after traction by the electromagnet, secure them in the working position in which they deflect bi-stable selection levers of at least one selection wheel which is rotated synchronously with the pattern wheel and wherein the selection members act as the selection elements for the knitting needles.

In this case, the control members of the pattern wheel are pivoted by one curved limb, counter to the action of a tension spring, into the region of the electromagnet, which attracts a control member in accordance with the pattern so that it takes up its working position and, on further rotation of the pattern wheel, leads this control member to the second curved limb, which secures it in the working position. This design of pattern wheel has the advantage that the selected control member is mechanically locked in the working position by the curved limb, so that when it strikes against the selection lever of the selection wheel, it presses this lever away, in a positive and reliable manner, into its working position. In this arrangement the energy de-' mand of the electromagnet is extremely low because it has to attract the control members only over a short distance and does not need to be sufficiently strong that it holds the control members firmly in the working position against the resistance of the selection levers which must be deflected. In addition to the low current consumption of this arrangement, the reliability of the locking of the control members in the working position by the rigid curved limb is of advantage.

In order to assure that, when the pattern wheel is rotated, the electromagnet holds the selected control lever until it engages against the second curved limb, the electromagnet is provided with a cover having an aperture which is shaped as a segment of a circle and carries a correspondingly shaped magnetic matching piece, which is in contact with the electromagnet. The curved limb which holds the control members in the working position faces towards the selection wheel, while the magnetic part of the cover is on the opposite side of the pattern wheel. By means of this arrangement and the characteristics that there is always a distance between the ends of the curved limbs, which are sickle shaped and opposed to one another, there is a clear separation of the control members, which have been selected and brought magnetically into the working position, from the control levers which remain in the rest position, and thus a clear needle selection for the reduction of flawless knitting patterns is assured. This pattern wheel is also reversible.

With the above and other objects inview that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, the appended claims and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings:

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through a mono-stable pattern wheel associated with a selection wheel for knitting needles.

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of a cover hood having an inserted magnetic angle piece.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the cover hood taken generally along the line III-III of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view through a further embodiment of a mono-stable pattern wheel associated with a selected wheel.

FIG. 5 is a simplified horizontal sectional view through the pattern wheel.

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view through another construction example of a pattern wheel in which control levers thereof interact with cams.

FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of another cover hood with an inserted magnetic matching piece.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a disc carrying sickle-shaped rigid curved limbs.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary plan view, with parts broken away, of a bi-stable pattern wheel, and

FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view through the bi-stable pattern wheel of FIG. 9.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-3 of the drawings, it will be seen that there is illustrated a machine cam, generally identified by the numeral 1, of a hand-operated knitting machine. It is to be understood that the machine cam 1 can be moved backward and forwards on a needle bed of a hand-operated knitting machine.

A mono-stable pattern wheel, generally identified by the numeral 2, and a selection wheel, generally identified by the numeral 3, are rotatably mounted on stationary shafts 21 and 211, respectively, carried by the machine cam 1. The pattern wheel 2 is provided with a toothed wheel 4 which, in the operation of a handoperated knitting machine, will engage a toothed rod (not shown) fitted to the bed of the knitting machine for rotating the pattern wheel 2 when the knitting cam l is moved back and forth. The toothed wheel 4 is meshed with a mating tooth wheel 5 of the selection wheel 3 so that the selection wheel 3 rotates synchronously with the pattern wheel 2.

-The pattern wheel 2 carries a plurality of circumferentially spaced control members 6 in the form of rocker arm type members which can be rocked to a selected one of two positions about a circular shaft or ring7 on which the control members are mounted. The control members 6 are continually urged towards the illustrated working position of FIG. 1 by means of lower spring arms 8 or in combination with upper spring arms 18. It is to be noted that the control members 6 are preferably formed of sheet metal which is provided with several bends and each control member 6 is provided with an upper arm of a greater width in the circumferential direction. The arms 6a lie against the exterior of a cover which is made of a non-magnetic material and has a slit opening 19, as is shown in FIG. 2, with the opening 19 being directly outwardly from the center of the cover and continuing over the entire height of the cover. A magnetic angle piece 11a is in- 'serted in the slit opening 19 and is in cooperative contact with an electromagnet 9 having a magnetic core 1 l. The extension 11a is preferably provided with an insulating covering (not shown) which will normally be of a plastics material. It is to be noted that the electromagnet 9 is arranged concentrically of the pattern wheel 2 and is surrounded by the cover 17.

At this time it is pointed out that in the illustrated example of the invention, only one selection wheel 3 is illustrated in conjunction with the pattern wheel 2. However, one pattern wheel 2 may set several selection wheels 3 and if so, the cover 17 will be provided with an appropriate number of split openings 19 and inserted magnetic angle pieces 11a.

Electrical current is fed to the electromagnet 9 through a cable 10 with the current being taken, for example, from a battery. Cable 10 passes through a hole in the cover 17 and a generally aligned similar hole in a protective covering 26, which covering 26 encloses at least the upper part of the pattern wheel 2 and the control member 6. The centrally located electromagnet 9, with its magnetic core 11 and the angle piece 11a, and the cover 17 are firmly connected in a nonrotatable manner with the stationary shaft 21 by means of a threaded bolt 27 or suitable fastner. The shaft 21 is secured to the machine cam 1 by means of a projection and is, for the most part, surrounded by a hub of the toothed wheel 4. A sleeve 22, which is provided with a radially outwardly directed annular flange 23 is carried by the hub for rotation with the toothed wheel. The surface of the flange 23 serves as a supporting base for hook-like attaching portions 24 of the control members with the attaching portions 24, together with the shaft 7, supporting the control members in a rockable manner. The ends of the attaching portions 24 are under the influence of the previously described spring fingers 18 so as to resiliently urge the arms 6a of the control members against the outer surface of the cover 17. It will be readily apparent that a very simple assembly of the control member 6 on the rotating pattern wheel complex of parts 4, 22, 23, 7 and 18 is made possible by the hook-like attaching portions 24.

As will be apparent from FIG. 1, the selection wheel 3, which is not in of itself a part of this invention, includes a hub 70 which is rotatably journalled on the shaft 211 for rotation with the toothed wheel 5. The hub 70, in turn, carries a body member 71, which is only schematically illustrated. The body member 71, in turn, carries a shaft 72 which is preferably in the form of a ring. Pivotally mounted on the shaft 72 is a plurality of circumferentially spaced bi-stable selection levers 14 which serve as the selection elements for knitting needles of the knitting machine. Only the foot 16 of one knitting needle is illustrated in FIG. 1.

As is clearly illustrated in FIG. 1, each selection lever 14 may be placed in a selected one of two positions. For each selection lever 14 there is a spring loaded ball detent l5 and each selection lever 14 has an upwardly shoulder shoulder portion 73 which cooperates with its respective selection lever so as to hold the selection lever either in a working position wherein the projection is inwardly of the ball detent 15, as shown at the left of FIG. 1 or in its rest position where the projection 73 is positioned outwardly of the ball detent, as shown at the right in FIG. 1. It is to be noted that in the rest positions of the selection levers, the selection levers are disposed so that they cannot engage the feet 16 of the knitting needles.

It is to be understood that at the end of each knitting cycle for a particular selection wheel 3, suitable cam means (not shown) will reset the selection levers 14 to their rest position. The control members 6 of the pattern wheel 2 are utilized to;set the selected ones of the selection levers 14 in their'workzposition in accordance with the predetermined pattern.v

The automatic selection of the knitting needles proceeds as follows:

If, during the backwards and forward movement of the machine cam 1, the electromagnet 9 is excited by impulse depending on a data source (not shown) which reproduces the knitting pattern, the arm 6a of that control member 6 which, at this moment, is within the range of the magnetized angle piece 11a is attracted and held fast against the cover 17 in addition to the force of the springs 8 and/or 18, the control member is immovable by the selection lever 14 engaged therewith with the result that a lower arm 61) of the respective control member presses against the selection lever and automatically pivots the selection lever into its working position with the projection 73 passing inwardly behind the ball detent 15. When the selecting selection lever 14 is in its working position, the knitting needles controlled thereby are brought into a different position which varies from the normal needle position for knitting patterns (Jacquard, woven-effect and the like).

If, in accordance with the predetermined pattern, the electromagnet 9 is not excited when a particular control member 6 is aligned with the angle piece 1 1a, the springs 8 and/or 18 do not exert sufficient force to hold the particular control member 6 in place when the lower arm 6b thereof engages one of the selection levers 14 with the result that the control member is unable to pivot the selection lever 14 from its rest position over the ball detent 15, and as a result the control member 6 itself is pressed elasticaly radially inwardly by the selection lever 14 against the force of the springs 8 and/or 18. The selection lever 14 thus retains its rest position and the knitting needles associated therewith take up their normal positions.

Considerable working rates can be achieved with the mono-stable pattern wheel according to the invention, because the normal position of each control member 6 is its working position in which it is firmly held at any given time by the excited electromagnet 9 so that the control member does not have to pivot over any distance to take up the working position, which movement would lead to a delay in the transmission to the selection lever 14. The control member 6 has to pivot over a distance only when it is pivoted into the rest position, but this has no effect on the working rate of the selection device.

It is to be understood that the pattern wheel 2 is reversible due to the symmetrical construction thereof.

Reference is now made to the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5 wherein the pattern wheel 2 has been replaced by a pattern wheel generally identified by the numeral 2a. The pattern wheel 2a includes a shaft 21a which is fixedly carried by the machine cam l and on which is rotatably journalled a hub 74 of a toothed wheel 4a, like the toothed wheel 4, is mounted for engagement with a toothed rod (not shown) on the knitting machine bed and is in meshed engagement with the toothed wheel 5 to effect rotation of the selection wheel 3.

The hub 74 carries in any suitable manner for rotation therewith an annular shaft or ring 7a on which are pivotally mounted a plurality of circumferentially spaced control members 6.

An electromagnet 9a is carried by an extension of the shaft 21a and is provided with an overlying magnetic core 11b which is substantially surrounded by a nonmagnetic ring 12, for example a brass ring. The ring 12 has a break at not less than one point and a nose-like extension 13 of the magnetic core 1 lb projects radially outwardly through the break. The magnetic extension 13 acts directly together with the control members 6' and, on impulse excitation of the electromagnet, effects the magnetic holding of the control members in their working position for deflection of the selection levers 14 of the selection wheel 3. If the electromagnet 9a is not excited, the corresponding control member 6, which can freely pivot about the shaft 7, is pressed back against an associated spring strip 8a carried by the hub 74, by the selection lever 14 and the selection lever retains the set rest position previously described with respect to FIG. 1 and as shown in the right hand part of the selection wheel 3 in FIG. 4.

It is to be noted that the electromagnet 9a may be coupled to the source of electrical energy by means of a wire 10a which extends through a central bore through the shaft 21a. Also, with reference to FIG. 5, it is to be understood that if the pattern wheel is associated with a plurality of selection wheels 3, then the magnetic core 11b may be provided with additional extensions 13 in accordance with the positions of the selection wheels 3.

Referring now to FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, it will be seen that there is illustrated a pattern wheel 2b which functions in a somewhat different manner from the pattern wheels of FIGS. 1 through 5. However, its interplay with the selection wheel 3 is identical.

For the most part, the components of the pattern wheel 2b are identical with the components of the pattern wheel 2. However, as is clearly shown in FIG. 7, the pattern 21) employs a modified form of cover 170 which is formed of non-magnetic material and which is fixedly secured to the shaft 21 by means of a bolt 27. The top surface of the cover 17a is provided with an aperture 19a which is shaped as a segment of a circle and which continues in a slit in the side wall of the cover 17a. An appropriately shaped magnetic matching piece 28, 28a is received in the aperture in the cover 17a. The magnetic matching piece 28, 28a is connected with the core 11 of the electromagnet 9 and transmits pulses of the electromagnet 9 to the upper arm 6a of the control lever 6. The tension spring 29 engages the lower arm 6b of each control member 6 and these springs pull the lower arms 6b towards the center of the pattern wheel 2 b so that the upper arms 6a of the control members are pulled away from the cover 17a with the result that the rest positions of the control membrs 6 of the pattern wheel 2b is spaced from the cover 17a and is identified by the position X ('FIGS. 6 and 8).

In addition to the reaction of the electromagnet 9 and the tension springs 29 on the control member 6, two sickle-shaped curved limbs 30, 31 also react on the control member 6 to position the same. The curved limbs 30, 31 are mounted opposite to one another in fixed relation on a disc 41 (FIG. 8). The disc 41 encircles the lower portion of the pattern wheel 2b with the curved limbs 30, 31 lying in substantially the same plane as the lower ends of the lower arms 61; for engagement therewith in the manner illustrated in FIG. 6 and diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 8.

When the pattern wheel 2!; is rotated, the lower arms 61; of the control member 6 always run up against the curved limb 30, which presses them so far outward that their upper arms 6a approach the cover 17a carrying the magnetic matching pieces 28, 28a in position X This position is not yet the working position but is an intermediate position in which the upper arm 6a of the control member has approached the matching piece 28a so closely that it has to pivot over only a short distance when the electromagnet 9 is excited by impulse to rest against the part 28a to take up the working position X In this working position X the control member is held by the edge of the matching piece 28 when the pattern wheel 2b rotates until the lower end 6b of the control member strikes the curved limb 31 on that surface thereof which faces towards the selection wheel 3, thus securing the control member in its working position, as is shown in FIG. 6.

The mechanical holding of the control member 6 in its working position X effects a forceful deflection of the selection lever 14 of the selection wheel 3, which deflection is independent of the magnetic force and affords control errors which could arise due to insufficient magnetic force, for example, when a battery is losing energy. Moreover, a noticeable effect of this mechanical locking of the control members in their working position X is a considerably saving of current. When the pattern wheel 2b rotates, the control members 6, which, in accordance with the pattern, are not attracted by the magnet, remain in the position X and traverse the inner circle of the curved limb 31, as is schematically shown in FIG. 8.

In FIGS. 9 and 10 there is illustrated a pattern wheel, generally identified by the numeral 2c, which eliminates the selection wheel and is of a construction so as to be of a minimum height. The pattern wheel 20 is carried by a machine cam 10 and includes a support shaft 21c fixedly carried by the machine cam 10. Carried by the upper part of the shaft 21c for relative rotation is a sleeve or bushing 40 which carries a toothed drive wheel 40 which will be engaged with the conventional toothed rod (not shown) of the knitting machine so as to rotate the toothed drive wheel 40 when the machine cam 10 is reciprocated back and forth.

The pattern wheel 2c includes a cylindrical housing 37 which is supported by an upper plate 32 and a lower plate 320. The upper plate 32 is mounted on the bushing 40 for rotation with the drive wheel 4c while the lower plate 32c is mounted on the shaft 210 for rotation with the plate 32 and the housing 37 by means of a separate bushing 41.

Carried by the opposed surfaces of the plates 32, 320 is a pair of non-magnetic bearing blocks 38 which are in opposed vertically spaced relation. The outer ends of the plates 32 are provided with cutouts or notches 34 and positioned within these notches are upper and lower ends of control members 66 which are generally disposed between outer parts of the plates 32, 32c and which have radially inwardly directed support portions 67 which carry oppositely directed vertical shafts 33 which are rotatably journalled in the bearing blocks 38.

As will be apparent from FIG. 9, there are a plurality of the control members 66 and these control members are disposed in circumferentially spaced relation. Further, as will be apparent from FIG. 10, each control member 66 has projecting downwardly from the outer part thereof a projection which can serve as a selection device for engaging the foot 16 of a respective knitting needle for moving the same into an operative position. As is clearly shown in FIG. 9, each notch 34 is defined by two circumferentially spaced faces 35 and 35a against which the respective control member 66 may be selectively retained. If the control member 66 lies against the stop 35, the projection of that control member effects the movement of th respective knitting needle only into its normal position. On the other hand, if the control lever 66 lies against the stop 35a, the control lever is in its working position with the result that the respective needle is brought into a different position which varies from the normal needle position so that a selection of the position of a knitting needle may be determined by the relative position of a control member 66 with respect to the two associated stops 35, 35a.

Control mechanism for the control member 66 includes a permanent magnet 90 which is directly mounted on an intermediate part of the shaft 210. Associated with the electromagnet 9c is a magnetic angle piece 11c which corresponds generally to the magnetic angle piece 11a of FIG. 2. The angle piece 116 may be mounted directly onto the shaft 21c by a ring portion of the type shown in FIG. 2, or may be part of a cover 17c. The arm 67 of each control member 66 is provided with a control element 68 at the radial inner end thereof which is disposed closely adjacent to the angle piece lie when it is radially aligned therewith. If the pattern wheel 2c is rotated in the direction of the arrow A (FIG. 9), a control member 66 achieves its working position against its respective stop 35a when the electro magnet 9 is excited by impulse and the control lever is in alignment with the angle piece 110 with the control member 66 being held firmly by the action of the electromagnet 9 until it comes to rest against its respective stop 35a. On the other hand, if the electromagnet 9c is not energized at the time the particular control member 66 is aligned with the angle piece 110, it will be retained against its rspective stop 35.

It is to be understood that the control members 66 are bi-stable. To this end, the plates 32, 320 have secured to their opposed surfaces permanent magnets 39. The stops 35, 35a represent the magnetic poles of the permanent magnets 39 and magnetically hold the control members 66 firmly against either the stop 35 or the stop 35a against which the control member 66 was last placed.

As is clearly shown in FIG. 10, the upper part of the shaft 21c is provided with a bore which opens towards the electromagnet 90. A wire c passes through the bore in the shaft 21c and connects the electromagnet 9c to an electrical energy source, such as a battery.

It is to be understood that all of the embodiments of the pattern wheels which have been shown and described are reversible due to the symmetrical construction thereof and therefore, have the previously discussed advantages.

Although only preferred embodiment of the invention have been illustrated specifically and described herein, it is to be understood that minor variations may be made in the pattern wheel constructions without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A device for use in a hand operated knitting machine for automatic selection of knitting needles thereof, said device comprising a rotary pattern wheel, means for mounting said pattern wheel on a machine member for movement therewith, said pattern wheel including a plurality of circumferentially spaced control members arranges in a ring, said control members being of th rocker arm type, means mounting said control members for movement between a rest position and a work position for effecting selected predetermined positioning of knitting needles to reproduce a knitting pattern, electromagnetic means fixedly mounted within and concentrically of said ring of control members for timed excitation by an electrical pulse to selectively sequentially react on said control members and effect the positioning thereof, said pattern wheel being in axially symmetrical relation to said electromagnetic means.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein spring means urge said control members towards the work position, and wherein there is at least one selection wheel associated with said pattern wheel, said selection wheel including a plurality of pivotally mounted bi-stable se lection levers for setting the positions of knitting needles, means mounting said selection wheel for rotation adjacent said pattern in a position wherein there is interengagement of said control members and said selection levers for the setting of said selection levers in accordance with the setting of corresponding ones of said control members, and drive means for rotating said selection wheel synchronously with said pattern wheel.

3. A device according to claim 1 wherein there are first guide means for coaction with said control members for urging all of said control members to a position adjacent said electromagnetic means for selected movement thereby to said work positions, and second guide means for later coaction with said control members to positively hold said control members in respectively set rest and work positions.

4. A device according to claim 3 wherein said guide means are in the form of opposed fixedly positioned curved limbs.

5. A device according 'to claim 3 wherein there is at least one selection wheel associated with said pattern wheel, said selection wheel including a plurality of pivotally mounted bi-stable selection levers for setting the positions of knitting needles, means mounting said selection wheel for rotation adjacent said pattern in a position wherein there is interengagement of said control members and said selection levers for the setting of said selection levers in accordance with the setting of corresponding ones of said control members, and drive means for rotating said selection wheel synchronously with said pattern wheel.

6. A device according to claim 1 wherein there is at least one radial extension associated with said electromagnetic means for magnetically acting directly on a control member moving past said extension.

7. A device according to claim 6 wherein there is a non-magnetic ring positioned within said ring of control members, said non-magnetic ring having an open point, and said entension extends radially through said ring.

8. A device according to claim 6 wherein a cover generally encloses said electromagnetic means, said cover being formed on non-magnetic material and haing an opening therein, and said extension being positioned in said opening.

9. A device in accordance with claim 8 wherein said electromagnetic means includes a core, said cover includes an end wall and a skirt, said cover opening is shaped as a slit extending radially outwardly from the center of said cover through said end wall and at least partially into said skirt, and said extension being an angle piece in direct contact with said core.

10. A device in accordance with claim 8 wherein said electromagnetic means includes a core, said cover includes an end wall and a skirt, said cover opeing is in the fonn of an apeture formed in said end wall and shaped as a segment of a circle, said aperture continuing down into said skirt as a slit in the middle of its arc, and said extension being of a shape matching said opening and formed of magnetic material.

1 l. A device in accordance with claim 8 wherein there is a further opening in said cover, and electric cable means extends through said further opening and are connected to said electromagnetic means.

12. A device according to claim 8 wherein the means mounting said pattern wheel includes a fixed shaft, said extension includes an eye located in axial alignment with said electromagnetic means, and bolt means coaxially of said cover and said electromagnetic means and coaxially threaded into said shaft fixedly mounting said electromagnetic means and said extension on said shaft.

13. A device according to claim 6 wherein said extension is formed of magnetic material and is provided with an insulating coating.

14. A device according to claim 1 wherein each control member is formed of bent sheet metal and includes an upper arm and a lower arm, and said upper arm is of a greater circumferential extent than said lower arm.

15. A device according to claim 14 wherein said pattern wheel includes a circular shaft, each control member has an oppen hook-like attaching portion engaged around said circular shaft, and there being a support engaging said attaching portion for retaining the same in engagement with said circular shaft while permitting rocking of said control member about said circular shaft.

16. A device according to claim 15 together with spring means reacting on each attaching portion for urging pivoting of each control member in a direction to move the upper arm thereof towards said electromagnetic means.

17. A device according to claim 16 wherein said spring means are in the form of free ended lamellae of a circular disc, and means mounting said circular disc on said pattern wheel for rotation therewith concentric with an axis of rotation of said pattern wheel.

18. Aa device according to claim 3 together with spring means actin on said control members for moving said control members away from said electromagnetic means to said rest positions.

19. A device according to claim 18 wherein said guide means are in the form of sickle shaped curved limbs opening towards each other and having spaced ends for the passage therebetween of those ones of said control members not set in their work positions by said electromagnetic means.

20. A device according to claim 3 wherein there is at least one radial extension associated with said electromagnetic means for folding selected ones of said control members in their work positions, said extension being positioned opposite to said second guide means.

21. A device according to claim 1 wherein said attern wheel includes axially spaced plates, said control members are in the form of radially extending extending levers having vertical pivot shafts journalled in said plates, and said levers have inner end portions disposed radially adjacent to said electromagnetiic means for selective movement of said levers to their work positions by said electromagnetic means.

22. A device according to claim 21 wherein said plates have circumferentially spaced cutouts radially aligned with the positions of said levers, each lever having axially projecting portions extending into a respective cutout and circumferentially spaced edges of each cutout defining stops for said projecting portions, and magnetic means carried by said plates for retaining each of said levers in engagement with a preset one of its respective stops.

23. A device according to claim 21 wherein each control member has a projection thereon for direct engagement with a knitting needle and directly acts on a selection element.

24. A device according to claim 1 together with an overlying covering receiving at least an upper part of said pattern wheel including said control members.

l =l =l 

1. A device for use in a hand operated knitting machine for automatic selection of knitting needles tHereof, said device comprising a rotary pattern wheel, means for mounting said pattern wheel on a machine member for movement therewith, said pattern wheel including a plurality of circumferentially spaced control members arranges in a ring, said control members being of th rocker arm type, means mounting said control members for movement between a rest position and a work position for effecting selected predetermined positioning of knitting needles to reproduce a knitting pattern, electromagnetic means fixedly mounted within and concentrically of said ring of control members for timed excitation by an electrical pulse to selectively sequentially react on said control members and effect the positioning thereof, said pattern wheel being in axially symmetrical relation to said electromagnetic means.
 2. A device according to claim 1 wherein spring means urge said control members towards the work position, and wherein there is at least one selection wheel associated with said pattern wheel, said selection wheel including a plurality of pivotally mounted bi-stable selection levers for setting the positions of knitting needles, means mounting said selection wheel for rotation adjacent said pattern in a position wherein there is interengagement of said control members and said selection levers for the setting of said selection levers in accordance with the setting of corresponding ones of said control members, and drive means for rotating said selection wheel synchronously with said pattern wheel.
 3. A device according to claim 1 wherein there are first guide means for coaction with said control members for urging all of said control members to a position adjacent said electromagnetic means for selected movement thereby to said work positions, and second guide means for later coaction with said control members to positively hold said control members in respectively set rest and work positions.
 4. A device according to claim 3 wherein said guide means are in the form of opposed fixedly positioned curved limbs.
 5. A device according to claim 3 wherein there is at least one selection wheel associated with said pattern wheel, said selection wheel including a plurality of pivotally mounted bi-stable selection levers for setting the positions of knitting needles, means mounting said selection wheel for rotation adjacent said pattern in a position wherein there is interengagement of said control members and said selection levers for the setting of said selection levers in accordance with the setting of corresponding ones of said control members, and drive means for rotating said selection wheel synchronously with said pattern wheel.
 6. A device according to claim 1 wherein there is at least one radial extension associated with said electromagnetic means for magnetically acting directly on a control member moving past said extension.
 7. A device according to claim 6 wherein there is a non-magnetic ring positioned within said ring of control members, said non-magnetic ring having an open point, and said entension extends radially through said ring.
 8. A device according to claim 6 wherein a cover generally encloses said electromagnetic means, said cover being formed on non-magnetic material and haing an opening therein, and said extension being positioned in said opening.
 9. A device in accordance with claim 8 wherein said electromagnetic means includes a core, said cover includes an end wall and a skirt, said cover opening is shaped as a slit extending radially outwardly from the center of said cover through said end wall and at least partially into said skirt, and said extension being an angle piece in direct contact with said core.
 10. A device in accordance with claim 8 wherein said electromagnetic means includes a core, said cover includes an end wall and a skirt, said cover opeing is in the form of an apeture formed in said end wall and shaped as a segment of a circle, said aperture continuing down into said skirt as a slit in the middle of its arc, and said extensIon being of a shape matching said opening and formed of magnetic material.
 11. A device in accordance with claim 8 wherein there is a further opening in said cover, and electric cable means extends through said further opening and are connected to said electromagnetic means.
 12. A device according to claim 8 wherein the means mounting said pattern wheel includes a fixed shaft, said extension includes an eye located in axial alignment with said electromagnetic means, and bolt means coaxially of said cover and said electromagnetic means and coaxially threaded into said shaft fixedly mounting said electromagnetic means and said extension on said shaft.
 13. A device according to claim 6 wherein said extension is formed of magnetic material and is provided with an insulating coating.
 14. A device according to claim 1 wherein each control member is formed of bent sheet metal and includes an upper arm and a lower arm, and said upper arm is of a greater circumferential extent than said lower arm.
 15. A device according to claim 14 wherein said pattern wheel includes a circular shaft, each control member has an oppen hook-like attaching portion engaged around said circular shaft, and there being a support engaging said attaching portion for retaining the same in engagement with said circular shaft while permitting rocking of said control member about said circular shaft.
 16. A device according to claim 15 together with spring means reacting on each attaching portion for urging pivoting of each control member in a direction to move the upper arm thereof towards said electromagnetic means.
 17. A device according to claim 16 wherein said spring means are in the form of free ended lamellae of a circular disc, and means mounting said circular disc on said pattern wheel for rotation therewith concentric with an axis of rotation of said pattern wheel.
 18. Aa device according to claim 3 together with spring means actin on said control members for moving said control members away from said electromagnetic means to said rest positions.
 19. A device according to claim 18 wherein said guide means are in the form of sickle shaped curved limbs opening towards each other and having spaced ends for the passage therebetween of those ones of said control members not set in their work positions by said electromagnetic means.
 20. A device according to claim 3 wherein there is at least one radial extension associated with said electromagnetic means for folding selected ones of said control members in their work positions, said extension being positioned opposite to said second guide means.
 21. A device according to claim 1 wherein said attern wheel includes axially spaced plates, said control members are in the form of radially extending extending levers having vertical pivot shafts journalled in said plates, and said levers have inner end portions disposed radially adjacent to said electromagnetiic means for selective movement of said levers to their work positions by said electromagnetic means.
 22. A device according to claim 21 wherein said plates have circumferentially spaced cutouts radially aligned with the positions of said levers, each lever having axially projecting portions extending into a respective cutout and circumferentially spaced edges of each cutout defining stops for said projecting portions, and magnetic means carried by said plates for retaining each of said levers in engagement with a preset one of its respective stops.
 23. A device according to claim 21 wherein each control member has a projection thereon for direct engagement with a knitting needle and directly acts on a selection element.
 24. A device according to claim 1 together with an overlying covering receiving at least an upper part of said pattern wheel including said control members. 